Following on from a report in the last issue of ACORNS regarding the growing strength of the visual arts scene in Singapore, the National Arts Council (NAC) has recently released a report detailing the success of the performing arts sector. A study, conducted by the NAC, has revealed that for the 2001 period Singapore’s performing arts sector recorded the highest numbers ever for ticketed attendance, ticketed performing arts activities and total performing arts activities. According to the report, an enlarged audience base has contributed to the increased attendance. Council notes that possible reasons for this may rest on the arts education and audience building efforts that they have pursued, with arts groups and other agencies starting to show signs of success. Highlights of the report are as follows;

Although theatre made up two-thirds of total ticketed performances on average, theatre generated proportionately less audience as compared to dance and music. For example in 2001, theatre performances constituted 66% of the total performances but only attracted 57% of the total audience for that year. The trend was the reverse for music - though it represented 24% of ticketed performance, it generated higher percentage of attendance (33%).

When comparing figures for the local arts scene, a similar pattern emerges. Local theatre showed the highest number of ticketed performances and attendance, but generated less audience per performance compared with local music and dance.

On average, Singapore arts groups contributed to four-fifths of ticketed events and two-thirds of ticketed attendance. Which council notes dispels the myth that the Singapore arts scene is dominated by foreign productions. Foreign productions represent one-fifth of total ticketed performances but around one-third of the attendance. However, the growth in attendance at foreign productions is higher than local productions over the period. Attendance at local performances increased by 12%, while that of foreign performances increased by 52%. The higher growth rate is said to be due to new Festivals that featured mostly foreign acts.

Arts groups/companies organised 60% of the ticketed performances and attracted a less-than-proportionate attendance at 43%. Arts presenters who brought in foreign productions like the Broadway musicals represented 11% of the total ticketed performances but accounted for 22% of the attendance.